Students struggle to get to school after carrier operators cut off service

More than 50 students of Seaqaqa in Macuata Province are struggling to get to school after several Rural Service Licence (RSL) and Licensed Carrier (LC) operators withdrew their services this week.

The drivers have cited rising fuel costs.

The disruption has affected families in Vunivere, Salove, Kawakawavesi and Trandavula.

It has forced some students to walk long distances or rely on other transport arrangements.

Parents and community leaders fear the situation will affect students’ attendance and learning if a long-term solution is not found.

Shiraz Khan, of Vunivere, said he had been walking two kilometres from his home to the main road each day since Monday so his son could catch a bus to Seaqaqa Central College.

“Since he doesn’t have a student bus card, I have to swap my bus card and pay an adult fare to make sure he goes to school,” Mr Khan said.

Mr Khan cannot continue providing the temporary arrangement because of his financial situation as a sugarcane farmer.

So he has decided not to send his son to school from next week until RSL services resume. His son can only use an RSL-issued transport ticket.

Another parent, Mohammed Khan had also decided not to send his two children to Seaqaqa Central College from next week. He spends about $50 on bus fares since services were withdrawn.

“My children with their cousins have been walking about 1.5kilometres to catch a bus since Monday,” Mr Khan said.

“We hope the Ministry of Education can do something about this.

“The RSL driver told me he had withdrawn his service until further notice because of the high cost of fuel.”

Seaqaqa Central College manager Matavesi Batisaresare said some RSL operators told him that they were suspending services because rising fuel costs had made operations uneconomical.

“The RSL operators said fewer students use the service and the low demand made it difficult to cover increasing fuel costs,” Mr Batisaresare said.

A meeting is planned with teachers and the school management to discuss how they can address the concerns of students and parents.

Apart from Seaqaqa Central College, some students of Seaqaqa Muslim Primary and Vunimanuca Primary School are also affected.

An email sent to Ministry of Education and Land Transport Authority on Tuesday requesting for their response to parent’s concern with regards to students transport welfare remain unanswered.